How to remove apps that were downloaded from reliableultimatesafevideoplayer.info?
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is reliableultimatesafevideoplayer[.]info?
Reliableultimatesafevideoplayer[.]info is a deceptive website designed to trick visitors into installing some potentially unwanted application (PUA).
It encourages them to download and use a fake installer of Adobe Flash Player update which is designed to install some adware, browser hijacker, or other PUA. In some cases websites like reliableultimatesafevideoplayer[.]info are used to distribute malicious programs as well. Either way, no software should be downloaded from this or any other similar website.
Reliableultimatesafevideoplayer[.]info claims that the installed version of Adobe Flash Player is out of date (does not include the latest security updates) and offers to download the latest version from it. This page also claims that the current version is blocked and in order to continue using it users have to update it.
Even if the current version is not up to date, it should be updated only through official sources. Typically, pages like reliableultimatesafevideoplayer[.]info download installers of various adware-type apps and/or browser hijackers. Adware is a software that serves various intrusive ads.
For example, coupons, banners, surveys, pop-ups, etc. Very often those ads are designed to advertise shady websites that get opened when people click them. In some cases they might even run scripts that are designed to download and/or install some unwanted software.
In some cases adware-type applications gather various data as well. Usually they target information related to user's browsing habits, like IP addresses, entered search queries, addresses of visited pages, geolocations, and so on. However, sometimes adware can be designed to record personal, sensitive information as well.
People behind such PUAs tend to misuse that data to generate revenue and/or sell it to third parties (potentially cyber criminals). Most browser hijackers are designed to gather browsing data too. Also, apps of this type promote addresses of fake search engines by changing certain browser's settings.
As we mentioned in the introduction, websites like reliableultimatesafevideoplayer[.]info could be used to distribute malware (like ransomware, Trojans, and other high-risk malware). To sum up, executing files downloaded from such pages could lead to data, financial loss, identity theft, problems with browsing safety, privacy, and other serious issues.
Name | reliableultimatesafevideoplayer.info pop-up |
Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Mac malware, Mac virus |
Fake Claim | The website falsely claims that Adobe Flash Player is outdated and encourages users to update it. |
Detection Names (AdobeFlashPlayerInstaller.dmg) | Arcabit (Adware.MAC.Bundlore.DPS), BitDefender (Adware.MAC.Bundlore.DPS), Emsisoft (Adware.MAC.Bundlore.DPS (B)), Kaspersky (HEUR:Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Shlayer.a), Full List (VirusTotal) |
Symptoms | Your Mac becomes slower than normal, you see unwanted pop-up ads, you are redirected to dubious websites. |
Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake Flash Player installers, torrent file downloads. |
Damage | Internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites, loss of private information. |
Malware Removal (Mac) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your Mac with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Some more examples of websites that are designed to trick people into installing unwanted software through fake installers of Adobe Flash Player are operateuberrefinedprogram[.]icu, mainspotupdatesfreenew[.]info and fineplaceupgradefree[.]info.
Websites of this type cannot be trusted, typically, they get opened through some deceptive ads, other shady pages or by PUAs that are already installed on a browser and/or operating system. In other words, people usually do not open these deceptive websites by themselves.
How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?
Quite often developers distribute unwanted apps by including them in setups of other software (like fake installers of Adobe Flash Player). This distribution method is called "bundling". Typically, information about additionally included apps is not disclosed properly, it can be found in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings of download and/or installation setups.
Not all people check and change those settings. By leaving them unchanged they often agree with offers to download and install various unwanted apps. Another way to unintentionally download or install PUAs is by clicking deceptive ads that are designed to execute certain scripts.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
It is important to download software from official websites and not to do that by using third party downloaders, Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule, etc.), questionable pages and other similar channels for that.
Also, it is recommended to always check "Custom", "Advanced" (and other similar) settings of any download and/or installation setup and decline offers to download and/or install unwanted apps. No software should be installed through third party installers. Furthermore, intrusive ads that are displayed on untrustworthy websites should not be clicked.
Typically, they redirect people to untrustworthy or even malicious pages or cause unwanted downloads, installations. If these redirects happen even without clicking any ads, or ads appear randomly, then we recommend to check what programs are installed on operating system and apps (extensions, add-ons or plug-ins) on a web browser.
If there are any unwanted, suspicious entries, then they should be uninstalled right away. If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.
Text in the initial pop-up window:
Update to the latest version of Flash Player. Your current Adobe Flash Player version is out of date.
Screenshot of the three pop-ups that appear after closing the first one:
Latest version of Flash Player is required to encode and/or decode (Play) audio files in high quality. - Click here to update for latest version.
Software update
Adobe Flash Player
Install the latest update
Update now
"Adobe Flash Player" is an essential plugin for your browser that allows you to view everything from video to games and animation on the web. The version of “Adobe Flash Player" on your system does not include the latest security updates and has been blocked.To continue using “Adobe Flash Player", download an updated version.
Download Flash... Update
Flash Player Update REQUIRED
Install latest version of Adobe Flash Player in order to continue watching.
Download
Screnshot of a pop-up that appears next:
Text in this pop-up:
Software update
“Adobe Flash Player” is out-of-date
The version of this plug-in on your computer doesn't include the latest security updates. Flash cannot be used until you download an update from Adobe.
Update Download Flash...
Screenshot of pop-up with instructions on how to download and install fake updates:
Text in this pop-up:
1
Go to the ‘Downloads’
Open your downloads list by
clicking on the top right corner
the ‘arrow’.
2
Open the file
Locate and double-click the file
starting with ‘Flash Player’.
3
Run the application
Confirm the installation by clicking
Continue and Install
buttons.
Type your password.
Screenshot of a fake Adobe Flash Player installer:
Appearance of reliableultimatesafevideoplayer[.]info scam (GIF):
Another variant of reliableultimatesafevideoplayer[.]info scam (GIF):
Text in pop-us of this variant:
Adobe Flash player update
Download an updated new version of “Adobe Flash Player" .
Download
Software update
Your Adobe Flash Player is out of dateDownloading new updates...
Updating takes a few seconds and no restart is needed after installation.
Update Download Flash...
Instant automatic Mac malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of Mac malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner for Mac
By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.
Quick menu:
- What is reliableultimatesafevideoplayer.info pop-up?
- How to identify a pop-up scam?
- How do pop-up scams work?
- How to remove fake pop-ups?
- How to prevent fake pop-ups?
- What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?
How to identify a pop-up scam?
Pop-up windows with various fake messages are a common type of lures cybercriminals use. They collect sensitive personal data, trick Internet users into calling fake tech support numbers, subscribe to useless online services, invest in shady cryptocurrency schemes, etc.
While in the majority of cases these pop-ups don't infect users' devices with malware, they can cause direct monetary loss or could result in identity theft.
Cybercriminals strive to create their rogue pop-up windows to look trustworthy, however, scams typically have the following characteristics:
- Spelling mistakes and non-professional images - Closely inspect the information displayed in a pop-up. Spelling mistakes and unprofessional images could be a sign of a scam.
- Sense of urgency - Countdown timer with a couple of minutes on it, asking you to enter your personal information or subscribe to some online service.
- Statements that you won something - If you haven't participated in a lottery, online competition, etc., and you see a pop-up window stating that you won.
- Computer or mobile device scan - A pop-up window that scans your device and informs of detected issues - is undoubtedly a scam; webpages cannot perform such actions.
- Exclusivity - Pop-up windows stating that only you are given secret access to a financial scheme that can quickly make you rich.
Example of a pop-up scam:
How do pop-up scams work?
Cybercriminals and deceptive marketers usually use various advertising networks, search engine poisoning techniques, and shady websites to generate traffic to their pop-ups. Users land on their online lures after clicking on fake download buttons, using a torrent website, or simply clicking on an Internet search engine result.
Based on users' location and device information, they are presented with a scam pop-up. Lures presented in such pop-ups range from get-rich-quick schemes to fake virus scans.
How to remove fake pop-ups?
In most cases, pop-up scams do not infect users' devices with malware. If you encountered a scam pop-up, simply closing it should be enough. In some cases scam, pop-ups may be hard to close; in such cases - close your Internet browser and restart it.
In extremely rare cases, you might need to reset your Internet browser. For this, use our instructions explaining how to reset Internet browser settings.
How to prevent fake pop-ups?
To prevent seeing pop-up scams, you should visit only reputable websites. Torrent, Crack, free online movie streaming, YouTube video download, and other websites of similar reputation commonly redirect Internet users to pop-up scams.
To minimize the risk of encountering pop-up scams, you should keep your Internet browsers up-to-date and use reputable anti-malware application. For this purpose, we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS.
What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?
This depends on the type of scam that you fell for. Most commonly, pop-up scams try to trick users into sending money, giving away personal information, or giving access to one's device.
- If you sent money to scammers: You should contact your financial institution and explain that you were scammed. If informed promptly, there's a chance to get your money back.
- If you gave away your personal information: You should change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication in all online services that you use. Visit Federal Trade Commission to report identity theft and get personalized recovery steps.
- If you let scammers connect to your device: You should scan your computer with reputable anti-malware (we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS) - cyber criminals could have planted trojans, keyloggers, and other malware, don't use your computer until removing possible threats.
- Help other Internet users: report Internet scams to Federal Trade Commission.
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